Art of canning



A. K. MALMQUIST.

ART OF CANNING.

APPLICATION FILED N v, 13, 1919.

ggg s Patented Aug. 9,1921;

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. K. IVIALMQUIST/ ARI 0F CANNlNG. APPLICATldN FILED NOV.1 3, 19l9.

1,386,887, PatentedAug. 9, 19211.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- tzjma. 27 :3-

MiQj/VVENTOR A. K. MALMQUIST.

ART OF CANNING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3 1919.

1,886,8'1 Patemmug. 9,1921.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. K. MALMQU|ST.

ART OF CANMNG.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 13. 1 919.

Patented Au 9, 1921;

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

earner castes.

ADOLEH K. MALMQUIST, OF SOUTH BELLmG-HAMI, WASIHNGTON, ASSI GNOR TO DEMING & GQULD COMPANY, OF SOUTH BELLINGHAIM, WASHINGTON.

ART OF CANNING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application filed Biovember 13, i919. Serial No. 337,737.

. To all whom it may concern.

I by declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in the art of canning, and more particularly to the canning of materials including liquids;- especially when liquids are introduced into cans which contain edible solids.

In the canning of fruits and vegetables, it is customary to introduce into, the can with such solids, a quantity of liquid, such as syrup and it is desirable that the can shall be filled as near completely as possible, and it is also desirable that the fruit or vegetable shall retain the natural flavor and color.

It has heretofore been proposed to first fill cans with a desired amount of solids, andthen, after completing the filling of the can with liquid, to pass the same through a steam box with-the object of heating the solids so that the liquid will permeate the same. When the cans are sealed while hot and then cooled, a slight vacuum is formed, but in heating the cans in the manner above described, the contents will swell and the liquid often overflows, thus causing a loss and leaving the cans partly filled, and furthermore, the heating causes the contents of the can to lose a portion of its flavor and also to become more or less discolored.

One object of my invention is to supply cans containing solid edibles, with liquid and sealing the cans, in such manner as to avoid heating the contents of the can; so that the pores of the fruit or other solid shall be opened to facilitate permeation of the liquid; so that overflowing and consequent loss of liquid will be avoided, and so that the cans shall be completely filled.

A further object is to so syrup and seal cans that both the syrupingand sealing shall be accomplished while the can occupies a vacuous or exhausted chamber.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. I In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 s a sectional view of a machine whereby. my invention can be carried into effect. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the positions of the parts when a can containing solids is first introduced into the machine. Fig. 3 is a-view similar to F1g. 2 showing the relations of the parts when the can is positioned to. receive liquid. F g. 4: is a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1 showing the relations of the parts when the'can is positioned to be sealed with a cap, Fig. 5-is a horizontal section; Fig. 6 is a front view, and Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are views showing various details.

1 represents framework on which a casing 2 is mounted, said casing providing a chamber 3 in which both the filling of the can with liquid and the sealing of the can is accomplished. Rubber or other packing 4 may be provided for the ends of the casing and a movable closure 5 is provided for the front of the casing and a packing 6 provides an airtight fit for said closure against the casing. The closure 5 carries slides 7 which project in both directions from its lower edge and these sides are movable in guides 8 secured to the framework 1. A latch plate 9 is pivotally mounted on the closure 5 and' is provided with lugs 10 to cooperate with lugs 11 fixed to the casing 2 for locking the closure in place.

Located within the lower portion of the chamber 3 are twmvertically movable platforms or plunger heads 12 and 13 and between these platforms or' plunger heads, a vertically adjustable platform 14 is disposed, the latter having a shank 15 which passes through a tubular guide 16 depending from the casing 2 and is adjustably secured 'to said guide by a screw 17. The platform 12 (which may be square) is provided with a tubular stem 18 which enters the tubular portion of a plunger 19 and said platform is also made with an annular flange 20 forming a groove into which the upper end of the plunger enters. through the central portion of the platform 12 and through the tubular stem 18 and the tubular portion of the plunger 19,-the lower portion of said plunger 21 being threaded to enter a threaded socket '22 in A plunger 21 passes 7 through a tubular guide 27 depending from the casing 2, and is provided'with an annular groove 28 for the accommodation of a split ring 29.

The lower end of-the plunger is pivotally connected to an operating lever 30, the latter being pivotally connected with the framewdrk 1, and a'cam-lock 31 pivoted to said lever and coopera le with an adjustable screw or abutment, 32, serves to lock the lever in raised position when said lever shall have been operated to elevate a can resting on the platform 12 for relieving syrup or other liquid as hereinafter explained.

The platform 13 (which may be circular) is provided with a stem 33 which enters the tubular portion of a plunger 34 and an annular flange 35 depending from said platform surrounds the upper end portion of said plunger. 'The stem 33 is made with an annular groove 36 into which a screw 37, passing through the wall of the plunger 34, enters-the size of said groove relatively to that of the screw being such as to permit a limited longitudinal movement of the stem 33 (andhence the platform 13) relatively to the plunger 34, and to permit said platform to rotate. A block 38 is mounted freely within the tubular portion of the plunger 34 and connected with the latter through the medium ofa in-and-slot construction indicated at 39. -1s prov1ded between the lower'endof the ball bearing 40 platform stem 33-and'theblock 38, and between said block and the lower end of the tubular portion of the plunger 34,- a spring 41 1s dlsposed. The plunger 34 passes freely through a tubular guide 42 depending from the casing 2 and an annular groove insaid plunger receivesasplit ring 43;

The lower end of the plunger 34 is pivotally connected with an operatinglever 44, the latter being pivoted to the framework at 45, and by raising this 'lever the platform 13 may be raised to elevate a can and present the same and a cap to sealing mechanlsm, as hereinafter explained. An arm'44 depends from the lever 44 and engages a screw 44. By adjusting the screw 44", the

height of the platform 13 and the desired tension for the seaming operation of the cap to It)he can mhay be adjusted.

urlng e operation' ofsup lying syrup or other llquid to the can afi d the subsequent capping or sealing of the can while the latter is within the chamber 3, it is im-.

portant that the latter shall be so exhausted of air as to form a partial vacuum. For this purpose, a pipe 46 connects the chamber 3 with a suitable exhaust pump (not shown), and a valve 47 is provided for this pipe. A

pipe 48 also communicates with the chamber 3 and is provided with a vacuum release valve 49, whereby air may be admitted to said chamber after the exhaust valve 47 shall have been closed.

A plate 50 is disposed over an opening in the top of the casing 2 and formed with a valve casing 51 and-an externally threaded nipple 52, said valve casing and nipple hav ing a vertical duct 53 communicting with the chamber 3 in the casing 2. An, lug valve- 54 is mounted in the casing 51 for opening and closing the duct 52, and is provided with a stem 55 having an operating cross-head orhandle 56at one end. Oneend of the valve is rovided with a short stem 57 passing through the wall of the casing and threaded to receive a nut 58, and a spring 59 is located on the main stem 55 of said valve between the casing 51 and a collar 60 pinned to said stem near the cross-head or handle 56. The upper end ofthe valve casing 51 receives a pipe 61 leading from a suitable source of supply of syrup or other liquid.. 'When the filling liquid is a heavy syrup, it

will be desirable to warm the same somewhat before it passes through the valve in order to avoid thickening, or crystallization of the sugar which might tend to clog the valve; F or the purpose of warming the syrup, a

heating jacket 61 may be located around a drain cock 61.

A gasket 62 of rubber orother suitable material is located on the under side of the portion of the pipe 61 and provided with an inlet 61 for a heating medium, and with a ring belng screwed onto the nipple 52 and being of such thickness as to compensate for the depth of a can cap. A ring 64 depends into the casing 2 and is provided with a flange 65 resting upon said casing under the gasket 62, said ring serving as a guide for a can and to prevent escape of the solid contents over the edge ,of the can and said ring is provided with holes 66 forming air pasages. 7 I A rack-bar 67 is suitably mounted to slide through a guide 67 within the chamber 3, and to this rack-bar, a yoke or can-holding bracket 68 is secured, and adapted to receive a can on the platform 12. Brackets 69 are secured to the closure 5 and to these brackets,

essee:

A pinion 71 is provided for operating the rack-bar and is carried by a shaft 72 passing through suitable bearings in a housing 73 projecting from the casing 1, said shaft being provided at its outer end with hand operating means 74. I

A can 75 filled with fruit or other solid edibles and minus a cap or cover, is placed on the platform 12 and in the yoke or bracket 68 as indicated in Fig. 2, after which the closure 5 will be moved to close the chamber 3air-tight. The release valve t9 being closed, the valve 47 may now be opened and the chamber 3, as well as the can and its contents will be exhausted of air,--thus causing the pores of the fruit to be opened to per-' mit permeation of liquid subsequently introduced. The lever. will now be operated to raise the platform and the can thereon. During the rising of the can, its upper open end will be guided by the ring 64 (said ring also serving to prevent escape of any of the contents of the can) and finally the upper end of the can will be pressed against the gasket 62, and the ring 63 will press the fruit sufficiently to compensate for the depth of a cap or cover to be subsequently applied.

When the can shall have been raised as above described, it will be held in its raised position by the operation of the cam lock 31 and the height to which the platform 12 on which the can is supported, may be raised, may be adjusted by means of the screw 32 with which the camlock cooperates.

The valve 54 may now be opened to permit the syrup or other liquid to flow (under atmospheric pressure) into the can, and'fill the spaces between the pieces of fruit and to effectually permeate the fruit, the pores of which, due to the vacuous condition which exists, will be open to receive the liquid.

When the can was being raised and its upper end pressed against the seat or gasket 62 by the action of the plunger 19 and platform 12, the plunger 21 moved slightly farther than the platform 12 and pressed or bowedthe bottom of the can upwardly as indicated at 7 6, Fig. 3, thus reducing the capacity of the can somewhat,thisreduction 'ofcapacity being equal to the ca acity of that portion of the liquid duct 53 elow the valve 54. If this provision for reducing the capacity of the can were not made, the amount of fluid in the lower portion of the. duct 53 would be sucked out when the can begins to lower and would probably overflow the can. and be lost, but when the plunger begins to move downwardly, the plunger 21 will descend prior to the descent of the platform 12 and the bottom 76 of the can will straighten out, thus increasing the capacity of the can suiiiciently to receive the surplus syrup in thelower portion of the duct .53. The can may now be lowered, but

asthe degree of vacuum in the can will have in the can.

upper surfaces will be in alinement, the can will be moved while in the exhausted chamber 3, from the platform 12, over the intermediate platform 14: and onto the platform 13, which operation is accomplished through the medium of the rack-and-pinion gearing hereinbefore described; When the can shall have been properly positioned upon the platform 13 it will be raised to the cap seaming mechanism by operation of the lever 44: and the cap will be seamed to the can while the vacuous conditionis maintained within the chamber 3. 1

The construction and operation of the seaming mechanism will now be explained.

A bracket 77 is located upon'the casing 2 an opening in the top of said casing, and

and'is provided with a boss 78 which enters secured to the boss 7 8,' within said openin is a cap abutment or holding ring 7 9, whic depends into the chamber 3 and is recessed for the accommodation of a chuck 80 having a recess in its under face. The chuck 80 is located at the lower end of a tubular spindle 81 mounted in a bearing sleeve 82 which may form part of the bracket 77 and a suitable gland 83 is provided within the bearing sleeve for the spindle. The tubular spindle 81 also passes through a cross-head 84, located upon the bracket 77 and the upper pol.- tion of said spindle is threaded to receive nuts 85. A rod 86 passesthrough thetubu- I lar spindle 81 and is provided at its lower end with a head 87 normally seated in the recess in the chuck head 80 and held therein by a spring 88 encircling the upper projecting.end of' the rod 86,-said spring bearing at one end against the tubular spindle81 and at the other end'against a collar 89 keyed to said rod. The rod 86 with its head 87 may be employed to release the capped can from the sealing means in the event of bindingor sticking of the same to said sealing means.

An annular holder 90 for a can cap 91 is located below the chuck 80 and is secured to one of' the brackets 69. Seaming rollers,

such. as indicated at 92 are mounted on a bracket 93 carried by the upper end of a 2. This'shaft 94 depends below the casing 2 and is provided with an operating lever 95 for controllingthe relationof the seaming rollers to the can cap. A bracket 96 is sei *vertical shaft 94 located within the casing cured to the bottom of the casing 2 and carlies a collar 97 through which the shaft 94 passes and to which, said collaris secured by a set screw 98-. By means of these devices,

the shaft 94 may be adjusted to adjust the seaming rollers so that they will operate accurately to seam a cap to a can.

' When the lever 44 is Operated to raise the platform 13, the can will be raised and its 'upper end, in passing through the annular holder 90, will pick up a cap and present the same to the chuck 80 and'abutment or holding ring 79. The can and its cap'will now be clamped between the platform 13 and the chuck 80, so that if the-chuck be rotated, the can and its cap will also be rotated. To provide means for rotating the I chuck and can, a gear 99 is keyed to the tubular chuck spindle 81 and receives motion be caused to rotate and transmit motion,

through the gears 99 and 100, to the chuck spindle, thus causing the rotation of the can and its cap. At the same time, the

lever 95 will be operated to bring the seam l ing rollers into cooperative relation to the flange of the cap and the latter will be seamed to the upper end of the can body.

When the seaming operation shall have been completed,'the can will have been hermetically .sealed' while in the exhausted chamber 3 and the/sealed can may then be lowered. The exhaust valve 47 may now be closed and the/vacuum release valve 49 fully. opened, after-which the filled and sealed can may be removed.

Various changes might be made in the details of construction of the apparatus without departing from the spirit of myinvention or limiting its scope and hence I do not wish to restrict myself to the precise details herein set forth. I

Having fully described my invention what I I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is: a 1. The herein described method, consisting in inclosing within a chamber, an open container having solid food therein, creating a vacuous condition within said chamber container within the vacuouschamber, discharging-liquid through the temporary closure into the container without removing the latter from the'vacuous .chamber, uncovering the container within the vacuous chamher, and sealing the container while the vacuous condition of the chamber in which it is sealed is maintained substantially unbroken.-

3. The herein described method, consisting in inclosing within a chamber, an open container, creating a vacuous condition in said chamber, temporarily closing said container within the vacuous chamber, discharging liquid through the temporary clo-' sure into the container while in the vacuous chamber, reducin the vacuous condition in the chamber to a just the degree of vacuum therein to correspond approximately to the degree of vacuum in the filled container, uncoverin'gsaidcontainer, and then permanently closingand sealing said container while the vacuous condition of the chamber in which it is located is maintained tially unbroken.

4. The hereindescribed method consisting in inclosing an open container within a chamber, creating a vacuous condition in said chamber, temporarily closing said container while within the vacuous chamber, reducingthe internal capacity of the container, then dischargin liquid through the closure into said contamer while the latter is in the vacuous chamber, opening the container, increasing its internal capaoity,-and sealing the container while the vacuous con, dition of the chamber in which it is located is maintained substantiall unbroken.

In testimony whereof, have signed-this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses I I d ADOLPH K. MALMQ UIST.

Witnesses:

D. M. BROSSEAU, C. M. MITCHELL.

substan- 

